Oct
27
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 25, 2009 – Today marked the conclusion of the Washington International Horse Show at Verizon Center, as the Pony Hunter divisions wrapped up their second day of competition. Meredith Darst had a banner day, claiming two of the championship tricolors, and going on to win the Grand Champion Pony Hunter trophy with Elation. She was also presented with the award for Best Child Rider on a Pony, sponsored by the Arute Family, for her excellent performance.
Later in the day, Darst continued her winning streak with Tuscany, owned by the West End Stables of Los Angeles, CA, in the Medium Pony Hunter division, sponsored by Bob Foosaner and Kris Gali. The duo took home The Shenandoah Sundowner Perpetual Trophy and the championship prize for their outstanding performance. The reserve championship honors went to Victoria Colvin and Promise Too, owned by Scott Stewart of Ocala, FL.
“Tuscany jumped well, especially yesterday,” noted 11-year-old Darst. “He’s a lot of fun.”
Darst began riding Tuscany this summer, and the pair was Grand Champion Pony Hunter at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show last week. “She absolutely loves him,” said Mindy. “He’s a wonderful pony and Harrisburg last week was a nice finish, and I’m very proud of what Meredith had accomplished here.”
This is the fourth year that Darst has earned a championship tricolor at the Washington International Horse Show. “I love Washington, it’s my favorite horse show,” she commented. “Waking up early is hard but I like the show. Yesterday we got to the spy museum and that was fun.”
Exerpt from original article by Rebecca Walton of PMG
Oct
23
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Washington, D.C. – OCTOBER 21, 2009 – The 2009 Washington International Horse Show continued today with the best horses and riders in the country competing in jumper championships. There were three jumper classes in total, and the first class victory went to Spencer Smith and Markies in the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship.
Today was just the beginning of a week full of exciting jumper competition. The courses are designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. In the $10,000 Children’s Jumper Championship, 13 horse and rider combinations were clear from the first round to advance to the jump-off. The early lead was held by Lauren Tyree on Eurocommerce Rome, who was clear in the jump-off in 28.123 seconds. The lead changed hands when Rachel Brodsky and Elliot 92 lowered the winning time to 27.671 seconds.
But it was eventually Spencer Smith and Markies, who went second to last in the jump-off, that would find the winning ride in 25.935 seconds. For their win, they were awarded the H. Fenwick kollock Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Friends of Fen.
Smith and Markies, a 24-year-old veteran show jumper, were quick in the jump-off and left out strides where possible. Twelve-year-old Smith of Wellington, FL, trains with his parents, Emily and Ken Smith. He has been riding Markies for two years and said that the seasoned horse has taught him everything he knows about the jumpers.
“He is different. He switches his leads a lot and swaps a lot, but he is really good. At first I didn’t like him, but now I do a lot,” Smith said of Markies. “He has taught me speed, and he taught me how to ride really.”
“I love going fast and I like the bigger jumps,” he continued. “I think I made up time at (fence) nine, that turn back to the oxer.”
This was Smith’s first time competing at the WIHS and he said of his win, “This is probably one of the best that we have done together.”
Spencer Smith on Markies
For more information and full results, please visit www.wihs.org.
Jennifer Wood for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
Oct
23
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HARRISBURG, PA – OCTOBER 13, 2009 – As the 2009 show season drew to a close, 237 of the Nation’s top equitation riders gathered in Harrisburg, for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show where the riders competed in the Pessoa / USEF Hunt Seat Medal Final. The competition took place over two rounds on a challenging set of courses by designer Steve Stephens.
Ashland Farms had worked throughout the season to prepare young riders Paulena Johnson and Jennifer Waxman for the challenge of competing for the Nation’s top equitation prize and the pair of riders came through, posting outstanding performances.
Johnson and Waxman both qualified for the second round of competition and earned a pair of top ten finishes. Johnson rode her horse “Prosecco 24” to a ninth place finish, while Waxman, aboard “Falcon” finished just out of the top four in fifth position.
Waxman rounded out the Pennsylvania National Horse Show with a championship and high points finish in the 16-17 year old large junior division, riding “Vida Blue”.
Ashland Farms will make the journey north to Syracuse for the final leg of the 2009 show season, before returning back to Wellington, Florida to begin training for the 2010 WEF circuit.
